Sermon - 2016-05-29
Today, I want to draw your attention back to the New Testament reading of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. As Paul is introducing his letter to the people, he is reminding them by whose authority he has spoken to them and the origin or source of the words that were given to him and thus to them. As Paul continues, he speaks about the way in which the people in Galatia have taken his words and thus God’s Word and changed it into what they wanted. For the people in Galatia were adding to the message of Jesus Christ things that would make them more accepted by others around them. They would not be persecuted because they would be following the rules that would make them safe and feel that others around them would be following. Above all, Paul was calling the people to understand who they were pleasing and serving, was it God or was it people?
This letter of Paul was written nearly two thousand years ago and yet it carries with it a message that speaks volumes to us today. In the midst of the beginning of summer, I have heard and seen many parents sign up their children for various sports, various camps, and clubs to fill their children’s time. However, I want you to stop and think, what is at the end of those activities? For sports, it is perhaps a trophy. The raising up of one person and saying that this person is someone who has done so well, that they did better than the others around them. Perhaps too, that same person would be added to a list upon a wall and others will remember them a few years after they themselves have died. Or what about that Camp or Club, in the end you may have some relationships, but they are relationships built around a task and not God. These events are indeed fun and can have some very positive effects for people, but they are not fulfilling the needs that a person is truly attempting to find in their life. These events are designed and fulfill our desire for human approval, and to belong to something bigger than ourselves.
So I want to draw you back to the very same question that Paul is asking of the people in Galatia, where is your focus? There are times that we need to hope, dream, plan, and reflect on where it is we are going and what is influencing us to do the actions in our life. For parents, you are called to help shape and teach your children the Christian faith. For grandparents, you are called to share your own experience and wisdom with your children and grandchildren, so that they are reminded of their calling to the Christian faith. And for all of us, we are called to pray for one another, for our own families, but also for those within the community. Yet above all, let us all help one another on our journey of life and faith by being focused on God and God’s calling for each and everyone of us. Amen.
This letter of Paul was written nearly two thousand years ago and yet it carries with it a message that speaks volumes to us today. In the midst of the beginning of summer, I have heard and seen many parents sign up their children for various sports, various camps, and clubs to fill their children’s time. However, I want you to stop and think, what is at the end of those activities? For sports, it is perhaps a trophy. The raising up of one person and saying that this person is someone who has done so well, that they did better than the others around them. Perhaps too, that same person would be added to a list upon a wall and others will remember them a few years after they themselves have died. Or what about that Camp or Club, in the end you may have some relationships, but they are relationships built around a task and not God. These events are indeed fun and can have some very positive effects for people, but they are not fulfilling the needs that a person is truly attempting to find in their life. These events are designed and fulfill our desire for human approval, and to belong to something bigger than ourselves.
So I want to draw you back to the very same question that Paul is asking of the people in Galatia, where is your focus? There are times that we need to hope, dream, plan, and reflect on where it is we are going and what is influencing us to do the actions in our life. For parents, you are called to help shape and teach your children the Christian faith. For grandparents, you are called to share your own experience and wisdom with your children and grandchildren, so that they are reminded of their calling to the Christian faith. And for all of us, we are called to pray for one another, for our own families, but also for those within the community. Yet above all, let us all help one another on our journey of life and faith by being focused on God and God’s calling for each and everyone of us. Amen.
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